Sarah Davies Smale had no complaints as she was edged out of Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold by one of her closest friends.
Davies Smale won silver at 69kg on the Gold Coast in 2018 and went on to win gold in the 71kg category in Birmingham four years later, but knew it would be tough against Canada's Maude Charron, the Olympic champion from Tokyo, in the 63kg event.
However, a silver medal – her third Commonwealth podium finish from four appearances – was a just reward for the 33-year-old from Preston.
"I knew coming into it that we were going to push for gold, but to finish one-two with one of the greatest weightlifters of our generation – and someone I'm proud to call a friend – is something I'll happily take," said Davies Smale.
"The bronze medallist was only 17, so that makes me feel old. It's brilliant to see the next generation coming through. Maybe one day they'll force me into retirement, but until then, I'm still here.
"Winning gold in Birmingham felt like I'd achieved everything I wanted to in the sport in terms of accolades. To be back here, adding another medal and still competing at this level, I can't complain. I think 10-year-old me would be pretty happy."
Weightlifting comprises two disciplines: the snatch and the clean and jerk. Athletes have three attempts in each, with their best lift in both combined to determine the overall winner.
And the competition was nearly over before it began for Davies Smale after she failed her first two attempts at a Games record 95kg in the snatch, in which the lifter has to hoist the bar overhead in one fluid movement.
She held her nerve with her final attempt and, after nailing 122kg in the clean and jerk, increased the weight to a Games record 138kg in a bold bid to win gold.
"I had an agreement with the coaches that we'd secure the medal first, then we'd take whatever we needed to try and win gold," she added.
"That turned out to be a lot heavier than we'd anticipated, but a deal's a deal. They asked if I wanted it, and I'm always going to say yes. We gave it everything."
Davies swapped cosmetics for kilograms in 2014 after calling time on a career in beauty pageantry.
She was crowned Miss Leeds in 2012 but, two years later, opted for a drastic change of lifestyle and an unexpected tilt at the weightlifting world, making her Commonwealth Games debut within months of taking up the sport and becoming an Olympian in Tokyo.
"When I first started, you could go to the British Championships and win a medal because there were only three people in your weight category. Now it's difficult just to qualify," she added.
"Seeing the sport grow, watching the next generation come through, and hearing young girls say they want to be strong and actively seek out weightlifting is incredible.
"Hearing those young voices in the crowd was really special. When I first started, weightlifting wasn't something many people associated with women. To see how much that's changed is amazing.”
James Toney/Sportsbeat 2026
